Safety-guard for axes



oooooooo W. L, MARBLE.

SAFETY GUARD FOR AXES.

N0. 604,624. Patented May 24, 18 98.

NITED STATES TO FRANK H. VAN CLEVE,

OF ESCANABA, MICHIGAN.

SAFETY-GUARD FOR AXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,624, dated May 24,1898.

Application filed January 22, 1898. Serial No. 667,649. (N modem To allwhmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WEBSTER L. MARBLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gladstone, in the county of Delta and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Guards forAxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to axes and its object is to provide a safetybelt-ax for the use of lumbermen, hunters, campers, and the like. Suchpersons generally carry a hatchet or light ax stuck in the belt, and itsuncovered edge is a constant source of danger, owing to the possibilityof hitting it through inadvertence or accident. Several devices havebeen proposed for shielding the edge of an ax; but these are generallycumbersome and cannot be quickly taken off when it is wanted to use theax. Moreover, being separate from the ax, they are liable to get mislaidor lost.

This invention consists in a shield or guard for the ax edge carried onan arm hinged to the aX-helve and capable of being instantly swung backout of the way when the axis wanted, but always ready to be closed uponthe ax-head when desired. The guard is preferably arranged to enter aslot or groove in the ax-helve when not in use, so as not to interferewith the convenient use of the ax. The aX-head is attached to the helvein a novel manner, permitting its removal when broken or worn.

In the drawings, Figure I is a perspective view of an ax equipped withmy guard, which is shown closed into a groove in the helve. Fig. 2 is aside elevation, partly in section, showing the guard opened and in placeupon the edge of the ax. Fig. 3 is a cross-section Fig. 4 is of theax-head on line 3 3, Fig. 2. an end view of the helve.

In each side of the aX-head A is a slot or recess a, extending in fromone edge parallel with the poll and having preferably undercut Theserecesses do walls, as shown in Fig. 3.

hold of.

not extend entirely across the aX-head, but terminate at or near thecenter, leaving the head of the ax of full thickness and strength beyondtheir ends. The end of the metallic helve B is bifurcated, the arms ofthe fork having their edges 1) formed to fit the walls of the recesses66. A screw 0 passes through the arms of the fork and that portion ofthe head A which lies between them, and thus firmly secures themtogether; but the head can be easily removed when worn or broken.

Hinged to the handle portion of the helve is a guard D, consisting of alight bar of metal, vulcanized fiber, hard rubber, or the like. If ofmetal, it may be U-shaped in cross-section to give lightness withoutlosing stiffness. The outer end of the guard is deeply grooved orotherwise shaped to fit upon and completely cover or envelop the edge ofthe ax, extending up a little way on the blade on each side. The guardcan be turned back upon its hinge to permit the ax to be used.

It is preferred to have the guard close down into a groove in the handlewhen thus turned back. In the drawings the metal helve is shown asgrooved or slotted out at b on its under side for some distance from itsbuttend. It is also preferred to recess it on its outside for thereception of side plates E, of wood, bone, rubber, or the like, whichare held in place by screws or rivets e. The sides of the helve may alsobe slotted out, as shown at 19 for the sake of lightness.

The guard D is hinged in the groove b at such a point that when open itwill cover the m: edge and when closed it will lie snugly within thegroove. It is preferred to let the guard project slightly from thebutt-end of the handle, so that it can be readily taken A flat spring Fis secured in the groove 1), with the free end pressing against the endof the guard, which projects somewhat beyond the hinge-pin d. The springthus acts to hold the guard in both its open and its closed positions. Aroller d may be mounted in the end of the guard to bear against thespring.

The operation of the device is obvious. When the guard is closedwithinthe handle, it is out of the way and does not interfere with the normaluse of the ax and effectually prevents the person carrying it from beingaccidentally cut. Being always attached to the ax, it cannot becomemislaid. It is inexpensive and does not add materially to the Weight ofthe aX.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. An ax having aguard hinged to its helve on an axis transverse thereto and adapted tocover and inelose its edge, substantially as described.

2. An ax havinga grooved helve, and a guard hinged to said helve andadapted to inclose the edge when open and to lie within the groove whenclosed, substantially as described.

3. An ax having a guard hinged to its helve about midway of the same,the length of said guard being about half that of the helve so as toinclose the edge when open and to lie parallel with the butt of thehelve when closed, substantially as described.

- 4. An ax having the handle portion of its helve grooved on the underside, a guard for the edge of the head hinged in said groove aboutmidway of the helve, and a spring bearing against the end of the guardnear the hinge-pin, substantially as described.

5. An ax having its helve grooved on the under side, a guard for the axedge hinged in said groove, a roller mounted in the end of the guardnear the hinge-pin, and a spring in the groove. bearing against saidroller, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WEBSTER L. MARBLE.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM A. Foss, RICHARD MERTZ.

